From Here to Pennsylvania

Last weekend, we had a little trip to North Carolina planned. Well, we had to modify the trip, slightly, because Aunt Anna’s funeral was Friday, in Pittsburgh. This meant we had to go all the way to Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Jim got off work super late, and we didn’t get there until 4am. (We were so trashed, the next day.) You should have seen us, driving there. The kids were so excited, even though we were driving in the dark. Peter was talking a mile a minute, it seemed! Everything was interesting: the big rigs, the Travel “Pizzas” (plazas), paying the “troll” (toll) on the turnpike, going over the huge bridge on the Maumee River (that replaced the draw bridge), etc. (Bear in mind, we haven’t been anywhere since 2005, when Peter was 5, Margie 2, and George 1.) That was great, witnessing the kids seeing things for the first time, or remembering things from before. On the otherhand, Jim and I were so freaked out about our van! The speedometer doesn’t work. So, as soon as we were in Ohio, we had to be very, very diligent and careful (you know how those Ohio Troopers like to target Michigan vehicles.) Then, there were areas of the turnpike where the van seemed to shimmy. It was a combination of the road and the strong winds (it happened the same way, on the way home). But, we were worried something was wrong with the van. At one point, Jim was rummaging in the glove box, and discovers we didn’t have our proof of insurance! How on earth did that happen? Neither of us knew, but, now, if we got pulled over, we were SUNK. (Triple the stress levels!) When we finally got to Pittsburgh, we only missed one turn, but, still, we had to go miles, it seemed, before we could turn around. (The streets aren’t laid out in nice gridwork patterns.) Except for being very tired, the funeral was beautiful, followed by a very nice luncheon. We were blessed Jim had the time off, already, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to make the funeral. (They were trying to schedule out of town meetings on the very same Friday and Monday he requested off.) I didn’t get any people pictures, in PA, but here are some from McKees Rocks: (As always, if you click on the photo, they enlarge.)

Going on the McKees Rocks Bridge. Our church, Holy Ghost, is the gold dome on the far right. That is where my great-grandparents attended, my grandparents were married, and my mother was baptized.












A view of the old P&LE RR yards, where my great-grandpa and great-uncles worked.












Neville Island